Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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90. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied with progress on reform since this Government came into power, particularly in view of recent appointments to State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47807/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Since this Government took office, sustainable and far reaching Public Service Reform has been a key element of our strategy to meet the challenges that have faced the country. Public Service Reform will also continue to play an important role in our recovery.

As the Deputy will be aware, we published our first Public Service Reform Plan in November 2011. A Progress Report published in January this year sets out the considerable progress we have made. Also in January, I published the Government's second Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016, with over 230 specific actions to deliver reform and service improvements across the Public Service.

In addition, the Taoiseach and I launched the Civil Service Renewal Plan in October. This plan outlines the practical changes that will create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service. We are also enhancing openness and transparency through our extensive programme of political and legislative reforms.

With regard to State Board appointments, while new arrangements introduced in 2011 were successful in opening up the appointments process, further steps have recently been taken, as the Deputy will be aware. The new guidelines provide good practice rules with the core principles of: promoting wider access to opportunities on State Boards; putting in place detailed and comprehensive criteria for those roles; and introducing transparent and rigorous assessment of candidates against these criteria. To facilitate this, a new website was created stateboards.ie on which members of the public can apply for such vacancies.

Overall, I am satisfied that we have made strong progress on the delivery of Public Service Reform. Our plans are in line with, and frequently exceed, best practice across Europe and our progress is well regarded internationally. The levels of reform we have delivered could not have happened without the efforts and commitment of our public servants and I commend them for their contribution to date.